Tairua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tairua
Tairua from Paku Hill
Tairua Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
Territorial authority	Thames-Coromandel District
Named	around 1800
Founded by	Hongi Hika
Named for	Tairua translates to Two Tides
Electorates	Coromandel Hauraki-Waikato
Area
• City	4.17 km2 (1.61 sq mi)
• Urban	5.45 km2 (2.10 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• City	1,479
• Urban	1,630
• Urban density	299.1/km2 (774.6/sq mi)
• District	33,700
Time zone	UTC+12:00
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13:00 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	3508
Area code(s)	07
Local iwi	Ngāti Hei

Mount Paku

Tairua is a cool beach town on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. It's in the North Island and part of the Thames-Coromandel District. Tairua is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Auckland. It's also 125 kilometers (78 miles) north of Tauranga.

The town sits right where the Tairua River meets the sea. It's on the north side of the river's mouth. Tairua also includes the small Paku Peninsula. In 2023, about 1,630 people lived here permanently. The name "Tairua" comes from the Māori language. It means "two tides" – tai means tides, and rua means two.

Right across the river from Tairua is a smaller town called Pauanui. The two towns are about 30 kilometers east of Thames. However, Tairua feels more connected to the seaside town of Whangamatā. There are a few islands near the river's mouth. These include Slipper Island to the southeast and the Aldermen Islands about 20 kilometers to the east. Mount Paku is an old volcano next to Tairua Harbour. People think it might have formed the Alderman Islands.

A Look at Tairua's Past

Early Discoveries

People once thought that early Polynesian explorers were the first to live in this area. This idea came from finding a special pearl-shell fishing lure. This type of shell isn't found in New Zealand. At first, scientists thought it was from the 11th century. But later studies showed it was more likely from the 14th century.

European Arrivals

In 1769, Lieutenant James Cook sailed past the coast of Tairua. He gave names to many of the islands offshore. He named them after his crew members or based on their shapes. European settlers first arrived in the 1830s.

Later in the 1800s, European settlers came to Tairua for two main reasons. They were looking for valuable timber, especially kauri trees. They also hoped to find gold.

Tairua Today

Since the late 1960s, Tairua has become a popular place for holidays. Many people come here for fun activities. These include game fishing, scuba diving, and surfing.

You can listen to Radio Tairua on 88.3FM. It's a local radio station that has been broadcasting since May 2007.

The local Oturu Marae is in Tairua. A marae is a special meeting place for Māori tribes. This one belongs to Ngāti Rautao. It includes a meeting house called Ngatau Wiwi.

Who Lives in Tairua?

Tairua covers an area of about 4.17 square kilometers. As of 2023, about 1,630 people live there. This means there are about 391 people per square kilometer.

In 2018, Tairua had 1,479 people living there. This was a good increase of 252 people since 2013. Most people living in Tairua are of European background (89.9%). About 11.6% are Māori. Some people identify with more than one ethnic group.

About 22.3% of people in Tairua were born outside New Zealand. This is a bit less than the national average of 27.1%.

When it comes to religion, many people (52.7%) said they had no religion. About 33.7% were Christian. A small number followed Māori religious beliefs or other religions.

Tairua's Weather

Tairua has a very mild oceanic climate. This means the weather is generally pleasant all year round. The average temperature never goes above 20°C (68°F) or below 10°C (50°F). Because of this, it's very rare for temperatures to go above 30°C (86°F) or below 0°C (32°F).

This mild weather makes Tairua a popular holiday spot. It has beautiful beaches and rugged hills. The hills and mountains around the town cause a lot of rain throughout the year. Winter often sees the most rain. Sometimes, heavy rain can cause flooding and landslides. These can cut off the community for a day or two, almost every year. All this rain helps the lush temperate rainforest grow around the town.

Fun Things to Do in Tairua

Beach and Water Activities

Tairua is a popular holiday spot, especially for people who own a bach (a small holiday home) there. The town has several beaches that are great for surfing. The harbour is perfect for kayaking and jet skiing. You can also walk from the town center to the top of Mount Paku for amazing views.

Fishing and Diving

The area is well-known for its fishing. You can catch big fish like kahawai, snapper, and kingfish in the waters around Tairua. There are many rocky islands nearby, making Tairua a popular place for scuba diving and snorkelling. Most diving happens at the Aldermen Islands, which are about 20 kilometers from town. This area is a protected marine reserve.

Exploring Nature

Native rainforests are close by. Places like the Coromandel Forest Park and its Broken Hills area are easy to reach from Tairua. These spots offer great opportunities to explore New Zealand's beautiful nature.

Schools in Tairua

Tairua School is a school for students in years 1 to 8. It's a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. As of February 2024. , it has 146 students.

For younger children, Central Kids Tairua Kindergarten offers early childhood education. It's for tamariki (children) aged 2 to 5 years old.